Thank you for reading – and reviewing. I'm a bit slow with the updates now as my schedule is rather full with other things as well, but I have not abandoned this story. So if you'll just hang in there I will update when I can.
Two Queens and a Princess
The day that Arthur (and all his entourage) left Camelot to go to Dinas Emrys to check the condition of the fort, Gwen and Isolde had arranged to meet with some women of the town to start the arrangements for the orphanages Gwen was planning. They were basically supposed to be schools, but as the children were going to live on the premises Gwen wanted some motherly – or grandmotherly – women to be there to look after them after classes and living on the premises. She would have liked to have a married teacher living in the school, but all the teachers that were currently working in Camelot were either unmarried or had houses of their own and weren't willing to move (not that they would have said 'no' to the queen, but Gwen had first made indirect inquiries and as a result of them wasn't going to ask). She was hoping that the women they were meeting – Enid especially, as she was the one people often went to for advice anyway – would know other women who needed a live-in position. The recent war with Morgana, short though it had thankfully been, had left quite enough widows in its wake and few of them weren't able to support themselves without either help or employment. Arthur did his best to try and find the ones in need and give them a pension, but the idea of a pension for a widow or an orphan was so new that not all who would have qualified for it, knew to make their plight known to the king. That was one more thing for Gwen to organize as well as having a census on the orphans.
Not that Arthur expected Gwen to organize any of it, he was rather more concerned that Gwen didn't take on more than she could do, but Gwen was good at organizing things and she liked working with the clerks and stewards and knights and the people of Camelot. What she didn't like, was having too much to do with the noble ladies of the court. Many of them – especially the younger ones – had accepted her (even if not without a murmur but definitely without protest - even a silent one), but some of the older ones, and all of the 'traditionalists' definitely made it clear that had Arthur been even a smidgen less devoted to her they would have done their best to subtly slight her. Though the ladies didn't dare to do anything of the kind (knowing that it would get to Arthur sooner or later if through no other route then definitely through Gaius and Merlin) Gwen was still keenly aware of their opinion and preferred to get on with practical things she could do to improve the lot of her people (as they now were) and helping Arthur. Arthur didn't know exactly how his court had reacted to his marriage, Gwen had made as sure of that as she could, but he was no fool. He knew that his marriage to a commoner (not that there truly was anything common or ordinary about Gwen) was a shock and cause for concern with his court. The servants had accepted Gwen readily as had the people of Camelot; they had known her all her life and they had all lived their romance with her, much more so than the nobles who had never even noticed that there was anything going on between Arthur and the smith's daughter. But the long and the short of it was, that Gwen wasn't going to be a 'traditional' queen, and she preferred to get on with it and the ladies of the court could either like it or lump it.
It was already afternoon when Gwen and Isolde finally made their way back to the castle. The meetings had gone well and they had several names for their consideration – either for a post at the school or for a widow's pension – and Gwen was very happy with the progress they had already made. She was discussing it with Isolde when their attention was drawn to the castle gate: a travelling coach surrounded by knights was arriving. Gwen was already standing on the castle stairs and turned to go back down when Leon came to her with four other knights under his command and surrounded her – not obviously protectively but more like an honour guard – preventing her from going down. Isolde turned with her and stepped forward to stand next to Leon a couple of steps lower. The carriage stopped and two knights dismounted to open the door when a servant jumped from his place next to the driver and set a step down to help the lady emerging from the vehicle to step down on the pavement.
As the lady straightened up Gwen heard Isolde gasp.
"You know her?" Gwen asked almost whispering.
"She's my mother!" Isolde gasped; her body was leaning slightly forward like she was ready to fly to her mother, but duty kept her in her place.
"Go on," Gwen immediately told her. "Go and greet her. Family comes first; we can wait a few minutes for the formalities."
The words were barely out of Gwen's mouth when Isolde flew down the stairs. Isolde's mother had just stepped down and was looking around getting her bearings when she saw Isolde run towards her and her – until then tired – face lit up and she opened her arms to receive her daughter. They hugged long and hard with tears flowing down from their eyes. Gwen watched for a moment and then made a move to go down the stairs to them. Leon stopped her.
"Don't you move," he hissed at her.
"I beg your pardon!" Gwen whispered back greatly surprised.
"You are the Queen," Leon stated. "Only the King is above you and when he is away you are the highest authority in Camelot. People, even visiting royalty, come to you; you don't go to them. At least not when they are not expected."
"Since when have you become such an authority on protocol?" Gwen muttered at Leon and there was a drop of vinegar in her tone. She saw how Leon's ears turned red. "Leon?"
"When you became the queen," Leon muttered back. "I asked George."
"Why?" Gwen was curious.
"The stupid biddies have enough to talk about with just their imaginations feeding them," Leon groused. "They don't need anything real to discus, no matter how insignificant."
"Leon," Gwen stared at him amazed. "Are you trying to protect me?"
"I've known you all your life," Leon muttered – and his ears were getting redder by the second. "Of course I care what happens to you and want to help you. I believe you will be a great queen, you are already doing a good job."
"Oh," Gwen took a moment to digest the information she had just received. She had known that all the knights were on her side – especially after the bracelet had come to light and they all felt bad about having condemned her so thoroughly – but she hadn't expected them, even Leon whom she had known all her life, to be willing to go to such lengths for her. George was a very scary person, after all. "Thank you." Was all she could think to say. And she stood still.
Isolde hugged her mother like she never wanted to let go, but eventually she had to. Even if the Queen of Camelot had not been waiting, she still needed to ask her mother a thousand questions.
"Oh my girl," Isolde the Elder smiled. "I have so missed you and been so worried."
"I'm sorry I caused you and Father worry and pain," Isolde admitted. "But I couldn't do anything else. I love him."
"I know," her Mother accepted. "So did your Father."
"Did?" Isolde, who had been about to ask after her Father, knew immediately that something was wrong.
"Yes," her Mother took Isolde's hands into her own. "I bring sad news: both your Father and your brother were wounded in battle and I only managed to save your brother. Your Father was beyond help and he passed away after a few days. Your brother has been confirmed as the king now and he sends his love to you. And also he gave me messages to give to the King of Camelot."
"The King is away for a few days," Isolde wasn't sure she quite understood the news she had just received. "Dead? What battle? There has been peace in Ireland for so long!"
"Iollan mac Dunlaing didn't want to wait for a chance to try for the kingship the normal way," Isolde's Mother explained. "So he staged a rebellion but it wasn't as successful as he had hoped. Now Feidlimih has been elected as the new king. But the letter came in time; your Father knew that you were in Camelot and that you were well and happy. He told me to tell you that he forgives you and he understood. He said that had we, him and I, been expected to separate the way you and Tristan were expected to do, he doesn't know that he wouldn't have done exactly what you did. He loved you and just wanted you to be happy and he was happy for you."
"Thank you, Mother," Isolde smiled through her tears. "You don't know how much that means to me. But I think I have tried the Queen's patience quite enough. Come, let me introduce you to Queen Guinevere of Camelot."
Isolde gestured her Mother to precede her and they made their way to Gwen. Queen Isolde greeted Queen Guinevere quite formally indicating with her words and gestures that as she was the widowed Queen of Ireland she was slightly lower on the protocol than Gwen, who was the wife of a ruling King. It was done very nicely and Isolde wondered if her mother knew about the situation in court because the 'biddies' had gathered at the windows and doorways to observe the arrival of this guest. Gwen hesitated a moment, but then decided that she wasn't going to change for anyone, so she responded warmly expressing her sympathies over the death of King Angus, making it quite clear that to her Queen Isolde was equal and welcome – and not the least so because of her daughter. She then looked around and – pretty much as expected – found George standing expectantly nearby.
"George?" Gwen only needed to indicate that George was free to speak, and George spoke.
"The rooms are waiting for Queen Isolde," George stated deferentially bowing just the right amount. "I have taken the liberty to appoint two maids to serve her and I have also arranged quarters for her men and servants. Refreshments will be brought to her anteroom within half an hour if that is acceptable?"
"That would be most welcome," Queen Isolde accepted with almost an awed smile.
"You are a marvel George," Gwen approved. "But could you also see to it that Lady Isolde has a room near her mother? I'm sure she would like to stay close at least until sir Tristan returns with the king."
"I will see to it immediately Ma'am," George bowed his way up the stairs and disappeared to arrange the room. At the tops of the stairs there was one of the castle's maids waiting to escort Queen Isolde to her rooms.
"Mother," Isolde suddenly remembered something that she hadn't asked right at the time. "You said 'the letter' arrived in time. What letter?"
"The letter the court physician of Camelot wrote to let us know that you were here," Queen Isolde said. "Didn't he tell you he was writing? It arrived just after the battle and was of great comfort to your Father."
"Gaius wrote to you?" Gwen exclaimed. "But we have only known about Isolde's family for about a month. Surely there hasn't been time."
"The letter arrived a little over a month ago," Queen Isolde stated. "I don't know how long Gaius has known but Isolde does look a lot like me, so he may have just figured it out before others."
"He knew about us before it was public knowledge," Isolde admitted. "But that was because we told him. How would he know about the resemblance? Do you know him?"
"We met over twenty years ago," Queen Isolde explained. "Your Father and I visited Camelot a couple of times before… Well, when we were young. Once we had children and the state matters took up more time and all that, we didn't travel as much and as far as we used to."
"If you mean that you stopped coming when King Uther turned against magic," Gwen assumed. "I quite understand. Isolde has told me that you are a healer and use magic when necessary. Please, do not worry. My husband has different views about magic than his Father had. We are in the process of making magic legal in Camelot again. So far my husband has re-established the Druids who are now allowed to use magic and he wants to make all magic legal – as long as it is not used to harm anyone or anything. We are not quite there yet, but people seem to trust him and the law about Druids has been well received so maybe we can proceed faster than the council assumed."
"I am glad to hear that," Queen Isolde smiled. "I never understood how Uther expected to eradicate magic! It is such an impossible task. And I promise that I will leave all healing to your physician's capable hands."
"Gaius has served us well for a very long time," Gwen agreed. "But if he asks for your help, please don't hesitate; you are a Royal visitor to Camelot, the laws don't apply to you quite as bindingly as they do us. Gaius has my complete trust; he would never ask anyone to do anything that might bring harm to anyone in the long run."
"You do understand about the balance that magic requires?" Queen Isolde observed.
"Gaius has been educating me," Gwen revealed. "As has Merlin."
"Merlin?" Queen Isolde asked.
"I will explain to you later," Isolde inserted. "You need to rest and refresh yourself after your journey and we can talk later."
"Your daughter is right," Gwen inserted. "Please, let Muireann show you to your rooms. We will see again after you have rested. And Isolde, I'm going to my rooms to rest as well, so if you want to accompany your mother that will be fine. Leon will see me to my rooms."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Isolde accepted and they went their separate ways.
Though Isolde followed her Mother they didn't really talk until after Queen Isolde had washed the worst of the travelling dust off her and partaken of the refreshments George had sent to her rooms. The fire was lit in the anteroom – it was summer, but the flames were soothing and the day wasn't so warm that the weary bones of a lady who wasn't so young anymore didn't appreciate the additional warmth from the fire – and the two Isoldes sat in comfortable chairs in front of the fireplace.
"Are you happy here?" Queen Isolde asked her daughter.
"Very," Isolde smiled. "Happier than I have been in a long time. We have finally settled in one place and can actually build a life together. We have friends and work that we believe in."
"You are one of the Queen's ladies?" Her mother asked.
"Me!" Isolde laughed out loud. "No way. I act as her bodyguard. Tristan is one of the King's knights. Neither one of us are too comfortable with traditional court life. Fortunately both Gwen and Arthur don't care too much about it either."
"Gwen and Arthur?" Queen Isolde felt a little confused.
"The Queen and the King," Isolde clarified. "I do address them formally most of the time, but they are also friends and when alone or talking to family I tend to be more informal."
"You are actually friends with the King and Queen of Camelot then," Queen Isolde observed. "So much for King Mark's message that you two were in cahoots with a band of smugglers."
"Well, if I'm honest," Isolde mumbled. "That wasn't a complete fabrication."
"What do you mean?" Her mother was puzzled.
"We did smuggle things," Isolde admitted. "For a year, or so, until we ran into Arthur and Merlin when they were running from Morgana – after she had used his uncle to invade Camelot. It was a surprise attack and with her magic and everything they didn't have a choice, they to escape to regroup and take the castle back. Merlin … Merlin was leading him to Ealdor – he was born there – and on the way they met us but Morgana's men were close and we had to fight and we sort of had to run with them and with one thing and another, we ended up joining in the fight and we helped Arthur to get Camelot back."
"Who is this Merlin?" Queen Isolde focused on the one thing that seemed to make any sense in her daughter's narrative. "You mentioned him once already. Or was it the Queen? Somebody mentioned him earlier today."
"It was Gwen," Isolde remembered. "Yes, Merlin. I don't quite know how to explain him. He may be the most important person in Camelot."
"Surely the King is the one who is the most important person in his kingdom," Queen Isolde smiled sceptically.
"Yes, and no," Isolde pondered. "We expect great things form King Arthur but he wouldn't be the king he is, and he most certainly would not become the king he will be without Merlin."
"So he is a 'kingmaker'," Queen Isolde concluded. "Has he been with the king for long? A tutor of his or a relative?"
"No," Isolde smiled amused. "He has been with Arthur for a number of years now and Arthur – I suspect – has learned a lot from him, but Merlin isn't a tutor. Or a relative. Or anyone you would easily think as someone important. He is the king's servant. Uther appointed him to be Arthur's servant after Merlin saved Arthur's life. It was supposed to be a reward but neither of them saw it that way at the time. Or so I'm told. Now, however, they are best friends. Though both of them will deny that almost to their dying breaths. But everybody knows."
"A servant?" Queen Isolde wondered. "If my recollection of Uther Pendragon is at all accurate, I can't believe that he liked seeing his son make friends with servants."
"No, by all accounts Uther Pendragon didn't put much value on servants," Isolde agreed. "Gwen definitely almost got her head chopped off. Of course, it wasn't a friendship that was going on between her and Arthur."
"The Queen was a servant?" Queen Isolde was astonished. "We did hear something in Ireland about Prince Arthur and a serving girl, but that was due to an enchantment, wasn't it? Though later we got the news that King Arthur was going to marry the town smith's daughter, but even that was cancelled – I think."
"The course of true love never did run smooth," Isolde sighed and settled down to explain to her mother what she knew about the romance of Arthur and Guinevere. It took some time and after she was done both her and her mother felt out of breath. And Isolde hadn't even included everything about Merlin in the narrative.
"I don't quite know what to say," Queen Isolde sighed. "There have definitely been some changes in Camelot since my last visit. But the reports we have heard of King Arthur have been good and I do think he will be a better king than his father was."
"He will be," Isolde stated. "We all believe so. In fact, that is why Tristan and I decided to stay. Merlin was the one who first got us willing to give Arthur a chance, but once we got to know the king we knew he was different from any other king that is around. Tristan especially was very sceptical about nobles in general and kings in particular, but now he is proud to be a Knight of Camelot and a friend of the King."
"And you are friends with the Queen," Queen Isolde said. "I am glad that you have found your place in the world. Now, though I would very much like to stay here and talk with you forever, the Queen did ask us to join her before dinner and I see it is already fairly late so once I have changed and once you have changed it is time to go to her."
"Yes, you are right," Isolde gave her mother a smile and left the room. As soon as she had closed the door behind her she broke into a run.
Isolde burst into the Queen's rooms like she was running from the hounds of Hell. Hilde was already in the anteroom but Gwen came from her dressing room to see what was causing the panic.
"Mother expects me to dress for dinner!" Isolde exclaimed eyes wide with fear.
"I am assuming that you don't mean that she expects you to be wearing clothes but that you mean an actual dress, as in a gown?" Gwen bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"I don't have any gowns!" Isolde cried out.
"Hilde?" Gwen turned to her maid. "Anything you can do?"
"Absolutely," Hilde replied calmly. "We are not in the habit of throwing away good gowns just because they are no longer used for one reason or another."
"Something in my size?" Isolde wanted to know. "This is a short notice."
"Yes," Hilde said. "Gwen will probably recognise the dress I have in mind, because she used to handle it so often, but when Morgana was expelled from Camelot the first time we took her dresses and simplified them and altered them to work as replacement gowns for those who might need them. People do come to Camelot for help – like Lady Catherine did, or actually she was a troll in disguise, but had she been real, well you know what I mean. And sometimes the widows and daughters of the Knights need a helping hand. We have a good closet of clothes that can be used – and not just Lady Morgana's gowns. If you'll help Gwen to get into her dress – she only needs to be laced up – I'll go and get the dress I think will fit you and then I'll help you into it."
"Thank you," Isolde was most relieved. "Thank you Hilde."
Some time later Isolde followed Gwen to the Great Hall where the meal was to be served in honour of Queen Isolde. The tables were set up but nobody was sitting down yet – obviously not as neither of the Queens had arrived yet – people were standing around both in the Great Hall and the corridor outside. Gwen had timed her arrival – with the help of the incomparable George – to coincide with Queen Isolde's arrival. Normally with visiting dignitaries the King escorted the visiting Queen in and the Queen was accompanied by the visiting King, but as now there were only two Queens present they walked to the table together with Isolde (in her new green dress) in their wake – not as the Queen's bodyguard this evening but as the visiting Queen's daughter. They sat down at the head table leaving the King's chair empty. Normally Queen Isolde would have sat next to the King on his left side, but this time, for convenience, Queen Isolde sat down to Gwen's right side and Isolde took the place left to the King's chair. The ladies all sat down together and Gwen nodded her permission for all others to sit down. Before she could give the servants a signal to start serving there was some noise at the door. One of the guards came up to the head table to explain what was going on.
"Your Majesty; the King has sent a messenger," the guard explained. "Do You want to see him immediately or will I tell him to come back after the meal."
"Is his message urgent?" Gwen asked.
"No, Ma'am," the guard replied.
"If you are hesitating because of me," Queen Isolde inserted quietly. "Please, don't. We have not started the meal yet and I don't mind waiting a few minutes."
"In that case I would like to see this messenger right away," Gwen told the guard. "And thank you Queen Isolde, for your understanding."
"You allowed my daughter to greet me when I arrived," Queen Isolde replied. "I can wait for my dinner while you listen to a message from your husband."
The Messenger approached the table, went down on one knee and asked for permission to approach. Receiving the permission he set a sealed letter on the table in front of Gwen and then stepped back a little.
"Your Majesty," the messenger said. "His Majesty sends his greetings and asks me to inform you that he is well. We reached Dinas Emrys as expected and found the fort in reasonable condition. The reason his Majesty sent me back, is that Sir Gwaine found the fort library and his Majesty would like it to be transferred to Camelot. He would like Your Majesty to arrange for the transfer and send an archivist to supervise the move."
"Sir Gwaine found the library?" Gwen had to repeat in disbelief.
"It was situated in the caverns under the fort," the messenger explained. "The storage rooms are there, too."
"Ah, I understand," Gwen smiled. "I'm sure Geoffrey can choose a suitable person from his staff for the task. I assume my husband wants the move to take place as soon as possible?"
"Yes Ma'am," the messenger nodded.
"So the Druids were satisfied with the condition of the fort?" Gwen asked. "Nothing unexpected or untoward there at first glance?"
"The Druids didn't seem worried," the messenger replied keeping his eyes on the floor.
"Caddoc?" Gwen could tell when someone was not completely open in his answers. "Are you saying that you don't quite agree with the Druids? Was there something there that other than the Druids found dangerous?"
"Not exactly dangerous," Caddoc – who was surprised that the Queen remembered his name as he was fairly new to Camelot – tried to find the right words. "It's just that the hill trembled a few times when we were there. The Druids didn't seem to worry about it. The King consulted with the builders and they came to the conclusion that the tremors weren't strong enough to be dangerous yet. They will try and find the cause and how to stop it. The Druids seem to think that Emrys will be the key to stopping them."
"That should be fine then," Isolde said.
"Emrys?" Queen Isolde wondered. "The druids have waited for him for a very long time. What makes them think he will be here in time to help before the fort collapses? Even small tremors, if they go on for long enough, will eventually break buildings."
"Emrys is already in Camelot, Mother," Isolde told her Mother. "The prophesies are being fulfilled."
"How do you know this?" Queen Isolde asked.
"Iseldir, one of the Druids with my husband," Gwen answered. "He told us. And I believe your daughter has met this Emrys."
"Isolde?" Queen Isolde turned questioningly to her daughter.
"Yes, Mother," Isolde replied. "He saved my life. And he is more than capable of making one little hill stop trembling. There really is no need to worry."
"So you think he knows about this problem with Dinas Emrys?" Gwen asked Isolde.
"Oh yes, I'm quite sure he is aware of the problem," Isolde answered. "The King has nothing to worry about. The Druids have good reasons for their confidence."
"That is good to hear," Gwen stated – though she was a little curious how Isolde could be so sure. "Thank you Caddoc for the message and please go, eat and rest. You can take a message from me to His Majesty tomorrow when you go back with the archivist."
"Thank you Your Majesty," Caddoc bowed himself out of the hall.
Gwen nodded to the servants and the food and wine was served.
The dinner didn't last very long and though Queen Isolde was curious about Emrys and the druids the conversation was mostly about the situation in Ireland and what changes had taken place in Camelot since Uther's reign. The evening was pleasant and the ladies retired very much in accord with each other and looking forward to seeing each other again the next day. Though both Isolde and her Mother did stay up a little while longer catching up some more they didn't stay up very late. They figured they had plenty of time to catch up later.